Foundation garment



Jan. 19, 1960 3, w GElSSMANN 2,921,586

FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed May 15, 1957 m n ID m m a m w is also possible to construct the contoured arch members of three or more pieces having their respective opposing edges cut at appropriate angles to impart the outwardly flaring contour. The arch members are preferably formed of a flexible, resilient, sheet material such as satin lastex having one significant direction of elasticity or stretch, the component prts 9 and being cut with the direction of stretch being aligned longitudinally with the generally vertical front and back limbs 6 and 7, as illustrated by the parallel grain or stretch lines in the draw- The side panels 3 and 3 are attached within the arch members 4 and 4, respectively, by stitching along the innermost edge thereof. 7 In order to grade the resilience of the sloping hip sections, crescent pieces 14 and 14', preferably formed of the same power net material as the side panels and having the direction of major stretch indicated by the grain lines, i.e., in alignment therewith, can be added to the upper portion of the side panels within the arch. The crescent pieces are attached to the innermost edges of the arch members and to the side panels so that a double thickness is provided which results in a gradation of resilience moving from the strong resilience of the side panel to the stronger resilience of the double thickness at the crescent-shaped area to the strongest resilience in the arch member. Preferably the crescent-shaped pieces are disposed against the inside surfaces of the side panels.

Fitted inrthe space between corresponding front limbs 6 and 6 of the arch members and secured adjacent the near edges thereof is a front panel 15 (Figure 7). I The front panel 15 is preferably formed of the same power net material as the side panels 3 and 3 and the crescent pieces 14 and 14' and, in the arrangement of Figures l-8, two layers, the predominant directions of stretch being arranged on the bias or at approximately 90 degrees to each other, as shown by the stretch lines of Figure 7. The opposing bias arrangement of the weave serves to equalize the tension across the abdomen and also to distribute the forces over the abdomen in an effective figure-controlling action. In the arrangement shown by Figure 2, a waistband extension piece 16 is made part of the front panel 15, either integrally or separately. In either case, it is preferred that a curving seam 17 be included between the main panel portion and the waistband extension 16.

.A waistband or collar 18, constructed in one or more pieces, is attached to the upper edge of the garment to envelope the waist to the extent required. In the event the waistband extension 16 is used on the front panel section of the waistband, joined thereto in curving seams 16a and 16b, it passes about the waist. If the extension 16 is omitted, the waistband will, of course, envelope the entire circumference of the waist. At the back of the Waistband (Figure 3) an anchoring loop 18a is shown for anchoring a brassiere, for example. Other loops can be added either inside or outside the Waistband for additional attachment points.

The basic assembly is completed by a back panel 19 (Figures 3 and 8), attached between the corresponding or back limbs 7 and 7' of the arch members. The back panel is preferably formed in the double layer, 1901 and 19b, manner of the front panel and of the same type of material, the predominant directions of stretch being at right angles to each other and both being at angles to the horizontal and vertical. The lower portion of the back panel is intended to provide fullness, allowing the garment to go under the seat area in a sitting position. This direction of freedom does not, however, relax the girthwise control. A curved seam 19a can be included across the back panel to assist in establishing a buttocks uplift and also to establish visual continuity between the lower seams which join the crescent-shaped pieces 14 and 14 to the side panels 3 and 3. The continuity of forces, deriving from the supporting ledges of the hips and curv- 15a and 15b, of fabric are used,

ing rearwardly downwardly atfords a sling action along the seam line beneath the buttocks. For continuity at the front of the garment, a curved seam 15a can be added to the front panel 15 to join the seams on opposite sides of the garment which secure the crescents 14 and 14. A further and correspondingly curved seam 1512 can be added between the seam 15a and the seam 16b of the waistband construction. The several curing seams impart reinforcement to the areas they traverse as well as pleasing and therefore decorative lines.

It will be understood that the invention can take various other forms and arrangements. Thus, for example, referring to Figure 10, a built-up waistband can be made by means of integral, upper extensions 20a and 21a on both the front and back panels 20 and 21, corresponding to the panels 15 and 19 of Figures l-S. Side pieces 22 and 23 can be included between the front and back panel extensions 20a and 21a to appear above the basic side panels 24 and 25 and the arch members (not shown). Also, the directions of stretch of the several component parts can be rearranged, as illustrated by the grain or stretch lines in Figure 10, which represents a developed plan view of certain of the component parts or" a complete garment. In certain cases nonstretching material can be used for certain pieces, such, for example, as the front panels 15 and 20, in which case single layers can be used.

In all cases the component parts interact to apply figure-controlling pressure to the several parts of the figure in amounts which achieve natural, pleasing contours, with the arch members 5 and 5 remaining as fixed anchors in the position of regulating the outward action of the side panels and the inward action over the abdomen and buttocks. These arch members side on the natural support ledges of the skeletal hip-bone structure to balance the interaction of movement. The arch members remain in relatively fixed positions and are contoured to rest comfortably in their positions. The non-stretch character across the limb portions of the arch members functions to prevent the center front and center back from becoming distorted on the wearer. There is a continuity of stress throughout which derives from the resilience and grains of the several materials in such manner that unusual freedom of movement obtains. The invention should not, therefore, be regarded as limited except as defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. In a foundation garment, a pair of resilient, flexible arch members, each including an upper section laterally inclined in an oblique plane to arch over and rest on a hip of the wearer, the upper section thereby defining a contoured space to receive the hip bones, and substantially vertical front and back limbs depending therefrom, a pair of resilient, flexible side panels disposed within the respective arch members and attached to the proximate edges of the vertical limbs, and resilient, flexible front and back panels attached to the proximate edges of the vertical limbs and spanning the spaces therebetween.

2. A foundation garment as set forth in claim 1, said arch members comprising fabric having one predominate direction of stretch, said direction being arranged substantially vertically throughout the limbs and the curving upper section.

3. In a foundation garment, a pair of flexible, resilient arch members, each including an upper section to arch over and rest on a hip of the wearer and each having front and back limbs depending in a substantially vertical direction from the upper section, said limbs comprising flat bands tapered downwardly and said upper section comprising an upwardly-widening band curving into the oblique plane of the upper hip area at the top of the arch to define contoured spaces to receive the hip bones, a pair of resilient flexible side panels disposed within and attached to the proximate edges of the limbs of the respective arch members, and resilient, flexible front and back panels attached to the proximate edges of said limbs to span the spaces between corresponding limbs of the two arch members. I

4. A foundation garment as set forth in claim 3, each arch member comprising along its length at least two fabric portions joined by transverse seams and having their respective abutting ends cut at angles to impart an outward flare to the arching upper portion.

5. In a foundation garment, a pair of arch members including upper sections to arch over and rest on the respective hips of the wearer, and substantially vertical front and back limbs depending therefrom, said arch members being formed of bands of flexible, resilient sheet material, the edge of each band being convergent downwardly from the top of the arch to the bottom of the limbs, said limbs extending to the lower edge of the garment, the edges also curving out of the vertical plane over the hip areas to define contoured spaces to receive the hip bones, a pair of resilient, flexible side panels disposed within and attached to the respective arch members, and resilient, flexible front and back panels spanning the spaces between corresponding limbs of the two arch members.

6. A foundation garment as set forth in claim 5, said back panel being adapted to underlie the buttocks of the wearer, and means in the back panel ,to impart lift to the buttocks.

7. A foundation garment as set forth in claim 6, said means to impart lift comprising reinforcing means connected to the upper portion of the arch members and curving downwardly rearwardly in sling fashion beneath the buttocks.

8. A foundation garment as set forth in claim 5, said 6 material of which the arch members are formed having one predominant direction of stretch, the arch members being arranged in the garment with the direction of stretch disposed generally vertically.

9. A foundation garment as set forth in claim 8, said side panels being secured respectively adjacent the inner edges of the arch members, and being formed of material having major and minor directions of stretch, the major direction of stretch being disposed at an angle to the horizontal and inclining forwardly upwardly in the garment.

10. A foundation garment as set forth in claim 5, including waistband means above the arch members and attached thereto at the sides of the garment.

11. A foundation garment as set forth in claim 5, said front and back panels each comprising at least two overlying materials, having directions of stretch at angles to each other and both at angles to the horizontal, said front and back panels being attached to adjacent edges of the arch members. I

12. A foundation garment as set forth in claim 5, including crescent-shaped pieces at the tops of the side panels, said pieces being attached to the arching portions of the arch members and to the side panels to afford a gradation of resilience from the side panels to the arch members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

